Metro faces lawsuit from New Year's Eve confrontation

LAS VEGAS (KSNV MyNews3.com) -- Three men are suing the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, claiming police used excessive force against them on New Year's Eve near City Center.

The three men say they were just trying to stop a fight they thought was about to break out when police grabbed them.

Metro, which usually doesn't comment to the media on pending lawsuits, did issue a response to the claims filed by the three men.

Metro denies any use of excessive force and says officers did what they had to do to keep the peace that night.

A video of the incident was shot by a bystander at the New Year's Eve gathering. It shows two men seemingly posturing as if they're going to get into a fight. They are approached by three men from the other side -- those three men are the ones suing Metro.

They say they just wanted to break up the fight, but shortly after they arrive in the picture, one of the three men appears to offer a drink and then Metro officers grab him from behind.

An arrest report says one of the men suing Metro grabbed a sergeant from behind and interfered with police.